In June, a delegation from GPCE had met business leaders and politicians in Derry. Negotiations to bring the plant to the city were ongoing for eight months.

Ms Anderson was involved with the talks.

"We always knew we were in competition with Kerry and given the fact that they have got a rate of corporation tax of 12.5% that is something that is beyond our gift to try to put some kind of level playing field forward.

"The decision to favour Kerry was a financial decision for the company," she said.